John Ritchies "Post-Lockout Power Rankings"

[Ivan The Awesome]

Wow Panthers #32?! Come on man..

[TheRealDeal]

No, my problem isn't that I disagree with his opinion (though I do). My problem is he says something that ignorant without any real basis. Don't say a guy lacks work ethic or the ability to succeed without some logical reasoning behind it. Saying "he had too much success at the college level to be good" is fuging retarded. Let's think about other collegiate players who had a lot of success that worked out pretty good (thus far) into their careers:

Those are just off the top of my head. Probably many more, retired and current players. So, his statement is fallacious and ignorant, that is my problem (and I think most people's problem) with it. What, are we not allowed to bash somebody's opinion when they have zero basis for it?

His basis could be this (Please don't read this as my opinion of Cam):

Went to Florida...instead of studying, decided to take the easy way and cheat to pass indicating a lack of work ethic.

Went to Florida...was 3rd on the depth chart coupled with his possible expulsion and he took the easy way out instead of battling to work his way up the depth chart and left school. Meh.

Went to Blinn...played JUCO football and won a NC. Considering the great athletic talent that Cam is, it CAN BE ARGUED that he relied on his natural gifts to win and didn't NEED to put in the work based on the inferior opponents.

Auburn...decide for yourself. If you focus on him as a playmaker, you probably liked him. If you focus on him as an NFL QB, you might think he lacks work ethic.

He didn't take those raw tools at Auburn and fine tune them, they are still raw, which could show a lack of work ethic.

You could also see it that he perfected the game plan he was given and that shows that he spent time studying film and the game plan, which could show a great work ethic.

There are things about him that signal a lack of work ethic.

There are things about him that signal a very strong work ethic.

It's all in the eye of the beholder but to say his opinion is ignorant only shows your inability to view the argument from the other side of the table and really shows how narrow minded you are.

Whether right or wrong, agree or disagree, the ability to understand your opponents argument is vital and you've demonstrated a deficiency here.

I have a stance on Cam (which many of you misunderstand) but I 100% acknowledge there is another stance on him which can be built on as strong a foundation as my own.

[jarhead]

Two national championships back to back at different levels is impressive success. The fact he hasn't been built into the sytems for seasons and just walked onto 2 teams like that is pretty amazing.

AEdwards and Matt Lieinardt had one too but that does not translate into sucess in the NFL. Only time will tell.

[MHS831]

number 32 was Carolina:

That is higher than I expected.

[Brooklyn Bully]

OH NO! A person has an opinion on our team that is negative! BURN HIM AT THE STAKE! Attack! Attack! How DARE he talk poorly of us!

/sarcasm

[panthers55]

I hope that teams we play will be understimating us like the media is at this point. Unfortunately I doubt they will. And in the end, the media will have no effect on how we actually do. I am glad for football and will sit back and see what happens and hope for the best.

[CatMan72]

LOL, I think we've reached a point where Newton's work-ethic can no longer be questioned. The kid has been spending 12 hours a day, 6 days a week at IMG for the past several months preparing himself to be an NFL QB. You can debate how successful he will be, but it won't be because he lacks the work-ethic.

This is just another example of a national sports media member blindy hating on the Panthers because they had the worst record in the NFL last year... nothing more.

[ncmonzta]

His basis could be this (Please don't read this as my opinion of Cam):

Went to Florida...instead of studying, decided to take the easy way and cheat to pass indicating a lack of work ethic.

Went to Florida...was 3rd on the depth chart coupled with his possible expulsion and he took the easy way out instead of battling to work his way up the depth chart and left school. Meh.

Went to Blinn...played JUCO football and won a NC. Considering the great athletic talent that Cam is, it CAN BE ARGUED that he relied on his natural gifts to win and didn't NEED to put in the work based on the inferior opponents.

Auburn...decide for yourself. If you focus on him as a playmaker, you probably liked him. If you focus on him as an NFL QB, you might think he lacks work ethic.

He didn't take those raw tools at Auburn and fine tune them, they are still raw, which could show a lack of work ethic.

You could also see it that he perfected the game plan he was given and that shows that he spent time studying film and the game plan, which could show a great work ethic.

There are things about him that signal a lack of work ethic.

There are things about him that signal a very strong work ethic.

It's all in the eye of the beholder but to say his opinion is ignorant only shows your inability to view the argument from the other side of the table and really shows how narrow minded you are.

Whether right or wrong, agree or disagree, the ability to understand your opponents argument is vital and you've demonstrated a deficiency here.

I have a stance on Cam (which many of you misunderstand) but I 100% acknowledge there is another stance on him which can be built on as strong a foundation as my own.

If he was writing this article after he left Florida it would've have been a valid argument. The fact that he's writing it after Cam has exceeded everyone's expectations is BS. Everything from winning 2 championships in college, showing up at the combine when he didn't have to, then to working 12 hours a day since being drafted, studying the playbook with Weinke, visiting the White House and flying straight to workout with the team the next day and then going back to IMG to work on the playbook shows work ethic if you ask me. Most of these reporters are just still in the "hater" mindset like many others. You have multiple interviews with coaches and teammates at Blinn and Auburn talking about Cam's leadership and work ethic and people still want to say he doesn't have work ethic or "just relies on his natural ability". That argument has been proven to be wrong and the "fact" is he has a very strong work ethic. Just accept it;)

[Kurb]

Auburn...decide for yourself. If you focus on him as a playmaker, you probably liked him. If you focus on him as an NFL QB, you might think he lacks work ethic.

Why?

[ncmonzta]

Why?

That post was schizophrenic

[unicar15]

I don't disagree with us being #32 given how bad we were last year. But to question Cam Newton's work ethic after the guy was essentially demoted to a JUCO and then was able to ascend back to the national status that he did in only what...2 years is absurd. The kid has as much work ethic as anyone else out there.

[TheRealDeal]

Why?

Because he didn't work on the things he needed to be successful at the next level, in many people's opinion.

For example, his footwork was terrible the whole year, showing that he thought he didn't need better footwork to win, which he didn't, but he didn't improve an area of weakness and was instead content on relying on his other natural abilities to make plays, like his escapability and arm strength.

It can be argued that if he had the great work ethic people are claiming, he would have been working on that during the season and improving each week.

Too many people here focused on the results in college and not the details.

Does that clear it up?

[PanthersGuy28]

I would be fine with getting the 1st pick again. We then land a monumental deal for someone that wants Andrew Luck and load up on picks then swag

[CRA]

Because he didn't work on the things he needed to be successful at the next level, in many people's opinion.

For example, his footwork was terrible the whole year, showing that he thought he didn't need better footwork to win, which he didn't, but he didn't improve an area of weakness and was instead content on relying on his other natural abilities to make plays, like his escapability and arm strength.

It can be argued that if he had the great work ethic people are claiming, he would have been working on that during the season and improving each week.

Too many people here focused on the results in college and not the details.

Does that clear it up?

You do realize with that logic you can argue every QB coming out of college has no work ethic. If thet have a weak part in their game ( and almost every single one does)....then you can claim they were lazy bc they did show dramatic improvement over the course of one season in regards to that weak spot. If Cam's coaches made that weakness a focus.....from shared know of Cam all signs point to the fact he would have worked hard on it

For example, your logic would suggest The Golden Calf of Bristol is lazier and has a worse work ethic than Cam....The Golden Calf of Bristol spent years at FL with no dramatic improvement in certain aspects